Positivity helps lead life with Parkinson's

Peter Cameron, Masterton vintage machinery collector and Parkinson's Wairarapa member, says staying active and positive helps living a life with the disease. FILE PHOTO

Parkinson's is far from the end point, says Masterton vintage machinery collector Peter Cameron.

Mr Cameron, a member of Parkinson's Wairarapa, has been affected by the condition since 2007, and in light of this week's nationwide Parkinson's Awareness Campaign, he said the most important thing was to ignore defeatist attitudes, and "just keep going on with your life".

"In reality you don't have to alter your life much, you just carry on," he said. "The worst thing you can probably do is try to change things, it's better just to keep going and keep exercising."

Mr Cameron said he appreciated the support from the Parkinson's Wairarapa group when it came to learning more about the condition.

"I guess having people that you can lean on and talk to is very helpful," he said.

"With the Wairarapa group we have a very good educating officer, Jane Flowerday, she's our eyes and ears out and about in the community and she's the first line of approach for new members. There's probably a lot of people that have got it and don't realise it yet.

"I probably had it for three or four years before I realised I had it. It was about when I retired from work that I started to think that there might be something wrong."

Mr Cameron has taken the condition in his stride, still pursuing his personal interests in collecting vintage farm machinery and creating model train sets and kit cars.

He maintains one of the biggest collections of Massey Ferguson machinery and tractors in New Zealand.

"You can't just give up all of this because of Parkinson's," he said.

Parkinson's Wairarapa co-ordinator Julia Mahony said the group's main street appeal is this Friday and there are donation boxes at all Wairarapa chemists and stands outside supermarkets selling raffle tickets.

"One message we would like to convey is that Parkinson's can be diagnosed in middle age and is not a condition only affecting the elderly," she said.

"It is important that local services are in place, so those newly diagnosed have good information and support."

Ms Mahony said she was thankful for the volunteer support received from Wairarapa Rotary, Lions and Lioness clubs to assist with the appeal.

"These clubs never fail to provide us with man and woman power during Awareness Week events."

She said South Wairarapa Rotary gave them a grant to purchase custom-made Parkinson's Wairarapa fundraising apparel.